In YourWords In YourWords

Calling the feature of our third episode, David Alexander, multi-talented feels like the understatement of 2021! Through dance, podcasts, poetry, and businesses, David lives a life of creativity. He is also one of YWSTL's most beloved and legendary teaching artists! Listen to his episode to learn what it takes to live a truly artistic life, in all of its facets.

This episode also features poetry from YWSTL's recently completed Crossing Delmar between Confluence Academies and New City School, of which David was one of our instructors.

David Alexander is a dancer, poet, speaker, and entrepreneur. He has impacted well over 150,000 people by  presenting at school assemblies with organizations BreakDown St. Louis, iTHINK Big School Assemblies, and dancing for corporate events, fundraisers, and churches. David was a selected speaker at the Channel Nine Network for “Blog Out Loud,” with the Young Nonprofits Professionals Association in St. Louis in 2013, and he leads an Arts Fellowship Program put on by the Regional Arts Commission, Center for Emerging Technologies, and Cambridge Innovation Center.  He has worked as a social media marketing leader, consultant, and is currently the Co-Founder of Social Origin, a digital storytelling company focused within the space of podcasting. He hosts a variety of shows in addition to his own also under the name Social Origin.

YWSTL's Summer Podcast Series continues with a bang! Episode 2 features Aysia BerLynn, one of our long-time teaching artists, as she reflects on what it means to be an artist as well as to foster a love for artistic expression in youth who are marginalized. The episode also includes clips from her recent creative writing workshop series with the girls of Sequoia House at Marygrove Children's Home.




Marygrove is a therapeutic residence for infants to 20- year-olds who experienced abuse or have nowhere else to turn.




Aysia BerLynn is an American singer-songwriter who embraces the highs and lows of life. With her soul-stirring lyrics and her sultry tone, Berlynn dives into herself to create a magical vibe and ambiance for all to feel. Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, and raised in a small town in Ohio, Berlynn began to explore intricate blends of genres from R&B, Electronic, Pop, and Soul music. It was very early in life that she became enamored with artists like Anita Baker, Aaliyah, Jill Scott, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and India Arie. Aysia BerLynn Co-Produced and Released her recent EP “Synth & Soul” Produced by Native.Genius In October of 2020.

It's summer, and what better way to celebrate than lifting up the voices of some bright and shining youth and artists? YWSTL's Summer Podcast Series kicks off with an episode about Crossing Delmar. Co-founder Anna breaks down the basics of the program. The episode also features podcast clips from the fifth-graders who participated in a recent Crossing Delmar Collaborative Project between Confluence Academies and New City School.

The residents of Sequoia House at Marygrove Children's Home recently finished a YWSTL creative writing workshop series, taught by Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond. To celebrate their hard work and accomplishments, a special culminating performance and party was held in mid-December. Listen to this podcast special to hear the hopes, fears, and goals of these young ladies as they look ahead to the new year. The episode also includes interviews with Dr. Redmond as well as YWSTL staffers, who share their thoughts on working with these inspiring residents.

YourWords STL is a non-profit organization that uses tutoring, creative writing workshops, and collaborative projects to help amplify the voices of St. Louis youth. YWSTL provides two weekly tutoring sessions and two bi-weekly creative writing workshops to the 16- to 20-year-olds in transitional housing at Marygrove Children’s Home, a North St. Louis therapeutic residence for youth who have experienced trauma or have nowhere to turn.

Our intro sounds are provided by Joey Ferber. Our outro sounds are from the song "For Me" on Aysia Berlynn's new album, Synth & Soul.

Learn more at http://www.yourwordsstl.org or @yourwordsstl on social media.

Teaching Artist Biography

A Mississippi native, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond is a published poet, master educator, community arts organizer, and successful entrepreneur. Treasure was raised in the federal housing projects, and went on to be signed to M.C. Hammer’s label as a hip hop artist, and writer. She is the author of chop: a collection of kwansabas for fannie lou hamer (2015). Her doctoral research focuses on the recorded performances of foundational Black Women poets, and the ways they deployed sound to impact the canon and justice movements. Treasure centers collaboration in her personal arts practice and as an organizing principle. As such, she has co-founded Fannie Lou Hamer House, a retreat space for Black artists, and a funding collective for Black artists called The Black Skillet with artist Dail Chambers. Treasure is the founder of Feminine Pronoun Consultants, LLC, and Get The Acceptance Letter Academy.

This finale episode of the #GiftOfWords podcast features Gerald Burton Jr., a Dream Builders 4 Equity participant with a big future ahead of him. Let this young visionary inspire you with his passion for equality and his determination to succeed.

Building bridges over society's fault lines starts with hearing each other's stories. Artists, teachers, students, and activists wield their words in interviews with Michelle Haberberger of YourWords STL. Gather wisdom from those working toward equity in one of the nation's most divided cities.

YourWords STL is a non-profit organization that uses tutoring, creative writing workshops, and collaborative projects to help amplify the voices of St. Louis youth. Learn more at http://www.yourwordsstl.org.

Our intro sounds are provided by Joey Ferber. Our outro sounds are from the song "For Me" on Aysia Berlynn's new album, Synth & Soul.

Guest Biography

Gerald Alonzo Burton Jr. is an 18-year-old senior at Mehlville High school and a member of Dream Builders 4 Equity. In his spare time, he enjoys creating reflective poems as well as enhancing his journalistic abilities.

In this time of a pandemic and ever-increasing demands on schools, how are educators supposed to make room for "something extra"? Arsenia Tate, Episode 4's guest for the #GiftOfWords podcast miniseries, believes that teaching kids lessons in inclusion, diversity, and mindfulness is not optional, but essential. She breaks down how school leaders can transform these popular buzzwords into daily realities.

Building bridges over society's fault lines starts with hearing each other's stories. Artists, teachers, students, and activists wield their words in interviews with Michelle Haberberger of YourWords STL. Gather wisdom from those working toward equity in one of the nation's most divided cities.

YourWords STL is a non-profit organization that uses tutoring, creative writing workshops, and collaborative projects to help amplify the voices of St. Louis youth. Learn more at http://www.yourwordsstl.org.

Our intro sounds are provided by Joey Ferber. Our outro sounds are from the song "For Me" on Aysia Berlynn's new album, Synth & Soul.

Guest Biography

Arsenia is also an EdHub Fellow. Her transformative education project is to develop a Culturally Responsive Teaching Model for Catholic Education called CARE+.



Caring Catholic


Awareness Toward Achievement 


Responsiveness to Childhood Development 


Equity in teaching, Excellence for all


Plus (+) Preparing the whole child in the context of Faith and Action 




The CARE+ model includes; ABAR language building blocks for PK-8, DEI Standards, Culturally Responsive Teaching Reports, Differentiated ABAR Training for Educators, School-wide DEI Programming, and Parent Education opportunities. 




Arsenia is also a mindfulness practitioner and educator. She teaches mindfulness with a DEI lens to grades 3rd-8th and is also a 2020 Graduate of Mindful Schools.