John and Jess Discuss the Mess

John and Jess take a step back and discuss the challenges Midtown faced: from the Catholic Church to racism to politics and more...

John and Jess are joined by Sam Giese - former Midtown employee and current Social Work Masters student in Maine. Sam discusses his experiences at Midtown, his love for his neighbors and his experiences as a MSW student. Lots of laughter, conversation and critical conversation.

John and Jess welcome Quincy Jones to tell his Midtown story. Quincy is a current St. Louis resident and speaks on the sense of hope and brotherhood he found at Midtown. Listen for lots of laughs and joy!

John and Jess welcome listeners to Season 2 with an intro to a place of hope, of community, of peace...Midtown! This season will tell the story of one, incredible community in mid-city St. Louis, its impact on John, Joyce and Jess and its impact on the idea of community overall. Welcome to our community, new listeners, we're excited to share our story. Episode one welcomes back a VERY special guest.

Join John and Jess for the last episode of Season 1! John and Jess discuss prejudice and racism in America....starting in the foundations of inequity in America leading into the idea that prejudice can often lead to racism and ending with hope for the future!

John and Jess pick back up on a discussion of the police...What do police actually do? Are police killings an American problem? Can we trust the police? The answer...not at all.

John and Jess discuss poverty - its deeply embedded history, its disproportionate impact on women and people of color, and how to educate yourself to be a part of the solution.

John and Jess discuss the importance of leadership, the purpose of schools, and the power of establishing a strong tone within an organization.

John and Jess bring on a special guest to discuss why Black Lives Matter, living in fear, maintaining hope in difficult times and taking action. Welcome to Ricky Jackson...a longtime friend and colleague hailing from St. Louis!

On this episode, John and Jess welcome a special guest to discuss Midtown Community Services in St. Louis, Missouri where John and Joyce (his wife) spend 30 years serving neighbors and Jess grew up with many friends!