Uhuru House and Akwaaba Hall, St. Louis, Missouri

APEDF is initiating a major funding campaign to renovate a recently purchased 9,000 square foot building for a new Uhuru House at 4101 West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. This will be our third Akwaaba (Welcome) Hall -- a political, cultural and economic hub for Family, Friends and Freedom!

Find out mor on Facebook and Youtube

We are joining with local members of our organization and the efforts of African people in St. Louis to reclaim our once vibrant African community. In the neighborhood of the new Uhuru House, where there was once a movie theater, a boxing ring, prosperous businesses, a thriving center of African music and culture, stately homes and neighborhoods, there are now hundreds of empty boarded up homes, storefronts and factories. The population of St. Louis has declined by a third since then, and unemployment and poverty rates skyrocketed for African people.

St. Louis can become a model of a depressed African community taking shape under the African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) in partnership with Black Star Industries. We are determined that the desire of African people for change will result in concrete progress for our people.

We are looking forward to bringing to St. Louis our 20+ years of experience in building institutions of African economic development as we have done in St. Petersburg, FL, Oakland, CA, Philadelphia, PA. Donate and volunteer with the St. Louis Self-Determination Projects!

Community Outdoor Event Space

Across the street from the Uhuru House, we are also purchasing two empty lots and two buildings that will need to be demolished. Combining all of these will create an outdoor community event space to hold the One Africa! One Nation! Marketplace, health and book fairs, a community garden, Halloween family programs and more.

Uhuru Jiko Community Commercial Kitchen
We are also in process of purchasing another building to house the Uhuru Jiko Community Commercial Kitchen, Uhuru Bakery Café, Uhuru Foods & Pies and African Independence Workforce Program that will provide training in the food industry for African men and women who have been previously incarcerated.