Leadership
Catherine Smith-Morgan
SLACO Board Vice President
Catherine Smith-Morgan is the Vice President of SLACO. Catherine is enamored with everything involved around the “communities of people.” Catherine is a lifelong resident of the City of St. Louis. Working for many years in the private and public sectors in the field of accounting (i.e., Auditing, Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Risk, Compliance and Operations, etc.,) Catherine saw an avenue for her skills to serve the community.
In June 2019 she became President of Academy by a unanimous vote of the Board of ASPNA. To further sharpen her skills Catherine sought opportunities to educate herself on all manners of development and leadership. In December 2022, Catherine became a graduate of Urban Land Institute St. Louis (ULI) to drive housing and real estate development to help the community thrive and sustain itself. In September 2020, Catherine became a Neighborhood Leadership Fellow (NLF) graduate from the highly selective and advanced leadership training program at University of Missouri Saint Louis Missouri University Extension, to serve in the St. Louis Promise Zone, City of St. Louis. As a leader in the community Catherine uses her foresight, passion, and strategic planning skills to lead the community toward progress.
Catherine has a full-time career as V.P., of Citi’s Independent Compliance Risk Management team. Additionally, Catherine is a wife, mother, daughter, and caretaker and attends the Westside Missionary Baptist Church where she relies on God for spiritual truth and insight.
Angela Drake
SLACO Board Secretary
Angela Drake is single mother of 3 beautiful children. A St. Louis native, Angela realized early on that she had a love for the beautiful architectural buildings here in North St. Louis and a passion to bring them back to their glory. Angela pursued her real estate career and received her license in March 2003. She became a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Missouri Association of Realtors (MAR) and St. Louis Associations of Realtors (SLAR) and continues to be an active member.
Angela’s interest in the St. Louis vacant land bank, St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority (LRA), led her to research and gain an understanding of how to purchase LRA properties. This knowledge gave her the incentive to become more involved with the neighborhood association, which lead to her involvement with St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO). After joining SLACO, Angela was nominated and elected as the Executive Board Secretary and is currently serving in that position. Her continued involvement with SLACO and the vacancy issues within her community lead to her to becoming a LRA Committee Member which then led to the formation of the Finest 15 which is a collaboration between SLACO and LRA. Angela was instrumental in organizing this newly found committee, whose mission is to promote homeownership by educating individuals on how to purchase, and secure financial resources for the renovation of LRA properties and becoming proud home owners. Currently the Finest 15 has assisted over 50 people with purchasing LRA property, some of which have become individual homes and others as investment property.
Angela is committed to the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association and community improvements. She is the organizer of the Hyde Park “Purpose for The Park” Fundraising Gala and the Hyde Park HouseTours.
Sherri Bailey
SLACO Board Treasurer
With her background in Public Policy, Sherri Bailey has a history and evolving commitment as a culturally responsive leader in both the space of community engagement and art. As a leader in the 26th Ward, Sherri is actively engaged with other leaders and businesses. Being active in Public Policy, she provides her community with continuous communications from the federal, state and local areas of government to community-building, engagement art projects.
With 10 years of experience as an event planner, Sherri creatively organized capacity events for: lobby days –Missouri and Illinois, leadership trip to Washington D.C., Illinois vs Missouri legislative softball game at Busch Stadium, press conferences, Public Affairs Networks, neighborhood tours.
According to her strength finder, she is a Connector. She has a natural gift of building successful relationships with high-profile civic leaders in the region, Chambers of Commerce, universities, and minority businesses in the region, to name a few. She has also been successful in fundraising and sponsorships. Working in Public Policy and community engagement is easy for her as she seeks out the strengths of individuals that will make the “dream work”, inspire, and empower to help navigate towards our shared vision. Strength in high-dollar fundraising and creating sponsorships opportunities.
Mark Dowdy
SLACO Board Sergeant at Arms
Electrical Engineer at St. Louis Community College (Retired)
SLACO Board Members
Walter Bonner
Monica Campbell
Lillie Clay
Keith Crawford
Amanda Davis
Mark Dowdy
Angela Drake
Rodney Edwards
Audrey Ellerman
Michael von Gebel
Erin Godwin
Theresa Heilich
Melissa Hill
Jack Hoerchler
Patty Hofer
Stephen Jehle
Carole Johnson
Kimberlee Johnson
Abbie Leonard
Catherine Smith Morgan
Fatimah Muhammad
James Page
David Porvaznik
Debra Robinson
Elysia Russell
Matt Sisul
Leah Sweetman
Sheila Webster
We Need Your Help!
SLACO is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that survives upon your donations. If you appreciate our work, be sure to help us continue it.