Community in Motion: Celebrating June Through Collaboration, Culture, and Purpose
July 14, 2026
The month of June was a powerful celebration of community, collaboration, and commitment to advancing health equity throughout the St. Louis region. Community leaders, advocates, researchers, healthcare organizations, and allies came together through two inspiring events that highlighted the importance of partnership, visibility, and collective action.
On June 18, The Future Is Femme Ball, hosted by Black Pride St. Louis at the 21c Museum Hotel, served as a fundraiser supporting the organization's mission to empower and uplift the Black LGBTQIA+ community. Under the leadership of Executive Director Randy L Rafter and Vice President Jordan Braxton the evening celebrated ballroom culture, artistry, authenticity, and resilience while bringing together organizations dedicated to building healthier and more inclusive communities.
Pictured from left to right: San Juan Caffey, Kneeshe Parkinson, and Jourdan Lacey at The Future Is Femme Ball, held at the 21c Museum Hotel in St. Louis.
Continuing the momentum, on June 27, community members gathered for Party with A Purpose, hosted by Ms. Tori Cooper of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in collaboration with Community Wellness Project (CWP), the Midwest D-CFAR, RISE IMPACT, Vivent Health, Williams & Associates, Inc, and numerous other community partners. The event created another meaningful opportunity for networking, education, advocacy, and strengthening relationships among organizations committed to improving the lives of those they serve.
These events demonstrated the impact that can be achieved when organizations unite around a common purpose. Together, they reinforced the importance of collaboration in advancing HIV prevention, implementation science, health equity, community engagement, and social justice.
Representing the Midwest D-CFAR Scientific Working Group (SWG) at The Future Is Femme Ball were Community Champions San Juan Caffey and Jourdan Lacey, alongside Kneeshe Parkinson, Program Coordinator for the SWG. Their presence reflected the SWG’s ongoing commitment to building authentic relationships between researchers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and the individuals they serve.
As Community Champions, San Juan and Jourdan continue to play an important role in ensuring community voices remain central to conversations surrounding HIV prevention, health equity, and community-driven research. Alongside them, Kneeshe continues to foster partnerships that bridge academic research with community expertise, creating opportunities for organizations to work collectively toward sustainable solutions.
June's events were a testament to the strength of collaboration. Whether through the celebration of ballroom culture at The Future Is Femme Ball or the advocacy and networking opportunities created during Party with A Purpose, each gathering reinforced that meaningful change begins with relationships rooted in trust, respect, and shared purpose.
Written by Kneeshe Parkinson, San Juan Caffey, and Jourdan Lacey.