The renowned past and exciting future of Harris-Stowe State University came together during a historic first week of October for the HBCU.
Harris-Stowe celebrated the opening of its Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) on Thursday, October 3, 2024, formally unveiling a state-of-the-art space “designed to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and support groundbreaking ideas,” according to HSSU President LaTonia Collins Smith.
Last week, the university also received a historic $1 million posthumous endowment from alum Anne E. Price, a former assistant superintendent for elementary schools and Banneker Elementary School principal in the St. Louis Public Schools district.
CIE open for business
Collins shared that the building at 3203 Olive that houses the CIE once was owned by Harris-Stowe.
“We sold it, and now it has come back. I was in Head Start as a kid right here,” she said.
“We are not only opening a building, we are opening a door to possibility. entrepreneurial spirit. It is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial spirit. Legacy takes a bold step forward here.”
The facility includes rooms for class instruction, conference rooms, and business development areas that include computers and other high-tech equipment to foster current and future entrepreneurs.
“We are not just talking about creating business plans,” said Stacy Gee Collins, interim associate provost of academic affairs and Anheuser-Busch School of Business dean.
“We are creating confidence, and solutions that are important to our community.”
Collins said the CIT “will ensure that underrepresented voices will be heard, especially Black and brown entrepreneurs.”
“This is a launch pad for their voices.’
Kristy Jackson, CIE executive director, shared that Black entrepreneurs face more financial hurdles than other groups of Americans.
“For every dollar raised [by non-Black owned businesses,’ Black owned businesses get a penny,” she said.
“I believe there is a seat at the table for all of us – even if we have to bring our own chair.”
Jason Hall, Greater St. Louis Inc. CEO, said the CIE will help “drive inclusive growth forward.”
“We are at a critical fork in the road. We have got to get inclusion right in this region. This center represents what it means to tear down barriers.”
He acknowledged some member’s skepticism on the value of inclusion by saying “there are people that want this to fail.’
“The people in this room have got to make sure that it succeeds.’
The CIE is in the former Mill Creek Valley community. In the name of “Urban Renewal,” Black businesses, homes, and professionals were expelled approximately 54 blocks were demolished beginning in 1954.
More than 5,600 housing units, 40 churches, and 800 businesses were destroyed.
From that chapter in St. Louis area, Gee said “we are building a legacy that will last for years to come.”
A grand gift from alum
The $1 million donation of Ann E. Price is the largest ever received from an alum of the university and will provide scholarships for HSSU students.
Price was a 1946 graduate of Harris Teachers College who began her career in the segregated St. Louis Public Schools in the late 1940s, serving as a teacher at Banneker Elementary.
She became a leader in reading education, establishing a reading clinic for Black children.
She rose to become Banneker principal, director of curriculum services, and assistant superintendent for elementary schools. She earned her doctorate in education from St. Louis University, specializing in urban curriculum supervision.
“She always spoke highly of Harris-Stowe,” said Price’s niece, Lynette Price McKinney.
“She was a 1946 graduate herself, and she never forgot her roots. It’s no surprise that she left such a generous donation.”
Price-McKinney shared that the endowment reflects Price’s “lifelong dedication to education and her strong desire to uplift underserved students.”
“She was always a huge supporter of the underdog. Her love for education was deeply personal. She wanted to help students from the city, particularly African American males pursuing elementary education. She believed in their potential and wanted to remove the financial barriers that so many of them face.”
Price was widely recognized for her contributions to both education and community service. She was the visionary behind Project FORE (Focus on Reaching Excellence), a motivational program that rewarded elementary students for excellence in achievement. Her work as the reading, writing, and spelling instructor on KMOV-TV’s “PS 4” program also touched the lives of countless individuals across the St. Louis region.
“One woman wrote to tell me how grateful she was because her mother learned to write by watching ‘PS 4,’” Price once recalled. “It brought tears to my eyes—that was an unexpected reward.”
McKinney said he aunt “was always focused on bettering others.”
“Even at 96, she would ask caregivers about their plans for continuing their education. That’s just who she was, always looking forward and always encouraging others to do the same.”
HSSU President Collins said the donation “will not only honor her legacy but will also empower future generations to pursue their educational dreams.”
“Her commitment to equity in education resonates deeply with our mission at HSSU.”
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