After decades of disinvestment and a lack of engagement by city leadership, many Black St. Louisans report feelings of hopelessness, unsure of what to do or who to turn to. When problems like crumbling infrastructure and food deserts remain unresolved, people become less interested in local government, and in turn, the work of elected officials goes unchecked. Kelly McGowan believes that civics education is the answer to solving many problems the city faces, and that’s what she aims to provide via her nonprofit Transform 314.