Because all blood is red...
Leading and promoting substantial investment into North St. Louis County
The idea for A Red Circle took root as founder Erica Williams researched St. Louis’ real estate history and discovered the tie between racial tensions and the past racist laws and public policies. She decided that a substantial investment into North St. Louis County was necessary to provide equitable relief to the region. Since its genesis as a nonprofit in 2017, A Red Circle has directly impacted thousands of lives. The team, now 20 employees strong, develops and executes life-enriching programming in employment, education, holistic living, policy and arts.
Dr. Erica R. Williams
Erisha Tyus serves as the Executive Assistant at A Red Circle, supporting the executive team through calendar management, document organization, and day-to-day operations. With a sharp eye for detail, she ensures everything runs smoothly and professionally.
Rochelle Gray is a seasoned public servant and community advocate with nearly 30 years as a Legal Administrator. Her deep knowledge of policy and government spans both state and local levels.
Robert Cleveland is the Project Manager for Bistro on the Blvd, an initiative of A Red Circle. Born and raised in St. Louis, Robert has led multiple restaurant launches and served as District Chef for Clayton schools. He actively serves on community boards and enjoys spending time with his daughter and giving back wherever he’s needed.
Ashlee Fitzgerald is an educator and people-centered professional with experience in special education, parent engagement, and customer success. She’s pursuing an M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and is passionate about helping others grow. Ashlee is a mom of three and enjoys hiking, reading, and learning pottery.
London Chastain is the Operations Manager at A Red Circle, where they help streamline systems and support programs across the organization. A former organizer and scholar, London is passionate about building community power and sustainable infrastructure.
Cary Braggs is responsible for connecting with the community and organizing outreach events in the community. With over 20 years of experience in ministry he knows how important it is to lovingly come alongside others and help change lives for the better. He knows this is accomplished through building strong and lasting relationships in the community. His vision is for the Nexus to become a beacon of light in the community as we provide much needed resources and services. Having a heart for people in the community is what pushes him to stay passionate and dedicated to his work.
Nicholas Williams is a 2020 graduate of McCluer Senior High School. He is an avid gamer and enjoys playing his clarinet.
Erin Tyus, a St. Louis native, serves as the Food and Farm Project Coordinator. Passionate about health and community service from a young age, she witnessed the detrimental impact of limited access to fresh, healthy food firsthand. She is excited to join an organization dedicated to eliminating food deserts. She aims to provide deserving communities with better access to nutritious food.
Tony Rushing was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Gateway Tech Highschool before pursuing higher education at Southeast Missouri State University. There, he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration and later completed his master's degree in higher education administration.Tony is apart of the Community Wellness team as the Food and Farm Project Coordinator. Outside of his professional pursuits, he runs his own gardening company named Tony TNT Gardening LLC. Tony is passionate about gardening, starting everything from seed and offering items ranging from seedlings to fresh produce.An avid lover of the outdoors, Tony prefers staying active rather than watching TV. He enjoys hobbies such as hiking, playing sports, and riding motorcycles.
Emma Crocker, born in St. Louis, MO, and raised in KCMO, is a dedicated nurse leader. With a Bachelor's in Nursing from UMSL and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice: Leadership in Population Health and Health Policy, Emma's career has been defined by community-driven initiatives.Her pivotal work at CHIPS Health and Wellness Center, where she supported uninsured community members, led to the creation of Senior Saturdays at CareSTL Health during the Covid Pandemic, ensuring vulnerable seniors received timely vaccinations.Currently serving as the Program Manager for Food & Nutrition at A Red Circle, Emma focuses on promoting food security and healthy food access in North St. Louis County. Alongside her husband Kevin, also a nurse, Emma enjoys gardening and gaming on their days off.
Queenie Vesey is a canning and farm educator. She plays a crucial role in educating individuals or groups about the art and science of canning, as well as sustainable farming practices. She is a self-taught canner, chef and gardener. Who enjoys spoken word poetry cooking and feeding the community. This position combines practical knowledge of food preservation with hands-on experience in farming, aiming to empower communities with skills that promote self-sufficiency, nutrition, and environmental awareness.
Erica Marie Tyus serves as the Program Coordinator for God's Bounty at A Red Circle, where she cultivates a culture of food security by empowering churches to grow their own organic produce. Erica's goal is to foster resource-sharing, collaboration, and sustainable nourishment across St. Louis County. A licensed minister with a Bachelor's degree in Theology and Divinity, Erica has spent her life rooted in faith and community service. Though she came to gardening more recently, her family's long-standing urban farm and her own health journey sparked a deep passion for nutrition and healing through organic foods. Diagnosed with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer in 2022, Erica leaned into her faith, resilience, and nutritional healing to fight back—emerging not just as a survivor, but as a powerful advocate for others on similar journeys. Her commitment to holistic wellness, education, and community impact shines through her work at A Red Circle, where she aspires to merge education, advocacy, and food justice into one mission-driven role.Beyond her work, Erica is a talented cook who teaches culinary classes to aspiring young chefs, a singer with a background in performing arts, and a part-time model who believes in celebrating beauty, strength, and self-expression in every form.
Eric Williams has a bachelor's degree in music and is also a business owner. As the oldest son of Director and Founder Erica Williams, he has seen her do all of this good work by herself and has helped out in small ways before while witnessing its growth. Now, he has the chance to be an integral part of this organization and looks forward to seeing the good that they will do together.
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Trevor Green was born and raised in North County and is proud to serve his community as the new Director of Development and Strategy at A Red Circle. A graduate of Christian Brothers College High School (Class of 2011), Trevor went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from a university in Maryland. After returning home to St. Louis County, Trevor worked as a political consultant and fundraiser, driven by a strong belief in community growth and development. He later pursued a new path and joined the police academy, spending the past eight years serving as a St. Louis County Police Officer. Trevor recently earned his Master’s in Public Health from Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville and brings with him a deep passion for his community and a genuine love for people. He looks forward to helping expand the vision and impact of A Red Circle.
Mellarie Thomas is a dedicated entrepreneur and long-time North County resident, Mellarie brings valuable experience to our growing Development Team..
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Tamar Brown is an experienced nonprofit practitioner, community leader and organizer. Tamar runs a consultant business specializing in nonprofit organizing, capacity building and resource management. In her spare time, she and her husband own a youth sports organization.
Cynthia Veal is a lifelong educator who retired after 33 years of teaching. Cynthia has a passion for shaping future leaders and impacting every student she comes in contact with. When Cynthia is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, traveling and reading.
Jacquelyn Randle has over 17 years of experience in Early Education, holding a BA in Early Education and MO Directors Certification. She serves on three boards as an advocate providing parent and educator viewpoints on early education. Jacquelyn fights for equitable education opportunities.
Jessica D. Johnson was one of A Red Circle's first volunteers and was named Arts Coordinator in 2019. Using her skills and abilities in art, music and creativity, she directs programs, projects and events for the communities served by A Red Circle.
St. Louis native, Joyce A. Huston, has a varied range of skills and talents. She graduated Central High School as Valedictorian and voted “Most Talented Female”. She attended the University of Kansas and Howard University as a Music Theory/Composition major, earning a B.S.B.A. degree from the University of Redlands, CA. She relocated to Las Vegas, NV and worked twenty years with Department of Energy subcontractors on building a nuclear waste repository. Here she held multiple positions including Database and Website Administrator, Project Controls Engineer, and team leader on Safety and Diversity music programs. Also known as “Lady J" Huston; she is a multi-award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter who reigned many years as the “Las Vegas Queen of Blues”.
Bailey Williams, a full-time volunteer, holds a Bachelor of Technology degree and has worked in the financial sector for 18 years. His guiding principles, which he calls his Circle of Themes, reflect his approach to his work at A Red Circle: connectedness, analytical thinking, inclusion and futuristic vision.
Role: PresidentInterest: Community OutreachEmployment: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Role: Vice PresidentInterest: Community WellnessEmployment: Washington University School of Medicine
Role: TreasurerInterest: Community Building and Community Wellness Employment: Veteran’s Administration
Role: Secretary Interest: Community DevelopmentEmployment: AT&T
Role: MemberInterest: To Serve Where NeededEmployment: Redefine the Pipeline
Role: MemberInterest: Community WellnessEmployment: Archwell Health
Role: MemberInterest: Social, economic, and educational equityEmployment: St. Louis City Government
Role: Member Interest: Community WellnessEmployment: Washington University
Role: Member Interest: Community Wellness and Community DevelopmentEmployment: Willis Towers Watson
Role: Member Interest: Fundraising and Community DevelopmentEmployment: Insperity
Role: MemberInterest: Community DevelopmentEmployment: Cushman Wakefield
Role: MemberInterest: Community Development and Racial EquityEmployment: State of Missouri
Role: MemberInterest: Education and Community WellnessEmployment: Opportunity Trust
Vincent Collins, M. Michelle Wilbret, LaSaundra Hagans, Jessica Moore, Sarah Willey, MA, CFRE, SMS, Nancy Harcar, Lisa Adams, Erica Davis, Craig Bardo, Kristen Wagner, PhD, MSW, Betsy Sinclair, PhD
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