Marvin Steele, CEO and founder of the Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce (center), joined U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell – (D-1st district), (left) and Eric Clark, community engagement coordinator for the St. Louis Job Corps Career Center, at the Clinton Peabody Phase 1 Groundbreaking celebration on July 17.

The three demonstrated a strong partnership, actively collaborating as part of a focused community engagement effort to support the dedication of 89 new construction units across three buildings at the southside St. Louis complex. Their joint work underscores a shared commitment to fostering economic opportunity and workforce development for local residents. Steele and Bell were guest speakers at the event.

Corporate sponsors in attendance—including Preservation of Affordable Housing, POAH Communities, St. Louis Housing Authority, BJC Healthcare, Ameren Missouri, the City of St. Louis, MSD, Urban Relocation, and US Bancorp—helped create new alliances and expand employment opportunities for the community.