Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund upcoming events

Book Discussion - The Frozen River (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:30:00 GMT

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a fictional tale inspired by a true story from the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in 18th century Maine. She is privy to most town happenings and her diary – which survives to this day – records every birth, death, romance, and scandal in the community.

Martha documents an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the river’s ice. Martha’s examination concludes he was murdered. But when a newly arrived male physician declares the death an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking crime on her own.

The Frozen River is a tense, tender story about a woman refusing to accept anything less than justice in an era when women were to be seen and not heard. As the story unfolds, you’ll find themes of patriarchy, victim blaming, power imbalances, maternal mortality and racism echoing across the centuries.

The book was a NY Times best-seller, GMA Book Club pick, and NPR Book of the Year. The title is available through the St. Louis City and St. Louis County libraries. If you buy a copy, please consider supporting a local bookseller.

Guests welcome.

Host: SOS Board Member Ellen Schapiro

Directions: The home of SOS Board Member Emily Rapp, 228 Gay Avenue, 63105

SOS Table Talk - Coffee (Thursday, April 23, 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Come to 23 West Coffee, a modern coffee shop in Webster Groves, to enjoy a variety of hot and cold brews in a venue with unique architectural details. Get to know host, Beth Ann Reichman, on her birthday as well as other SOS members for casual conversation in this lovely new space. Each member pays their own check.

Questions? Please reach out to the event host.

Host: Beth Ann Reichman

Directions: 23 West Lockwood, Webster Groves, 63119

Pop-Up Social (Monday, May 11, 2026)

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Please join us as we mix and mingle and welcome Spring. This casual gathering is great for socializing with new and old friends and learning about our current grantee, Health Protection and Education Services who truly embraces our collaborative approach. Hear the story of how they now partner with Healing Spaces psychological services to offer much needed support for Ukrainian immigrants on their way to citizenship in unsettling times - a real eye-opener.

Bring a friend or two! Guests are always welcome to attend!

Host: Crista Carr Shatz

Directions: Hi-Pointe Lofts, 6340 Clayton Road, Loft 401, 63117

SOS Walk & Talk (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Meet SOS members at Starbucks 13488 Clayton Rd & Mason Woods Village to grab coffee and a snack before our “Walk & Talk”. We will offer the short loop to warm up at Town and Country Town Square, then for those who wish to continue we will go under the street via tunnel to continue to Longview Farm path.

Members only, each member will pay for their own Starbucks order.

Event host: Jane Tracy

Event location: Starbucks at 13488 Clayton Rd & Masons Woods Village and Longview Farm Park

Parking: Park at Starbucks and walk to Longview Farm Park

Missouri’s Rising Maternal Mortality Rate (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Missouri’s new moms and babies are dying at a rate greater than those in third-world

countries like Vietnam and Uzbekistan. And Black families’ outcomes are far worse than

Caucasian ones. What are the complex causes and what can be done to reverse this

alarming, heart-breaking trend?

Two experts from Affinia Healthcare will join us to share insights on this critical topic.

VP/Chief Medical Officer Melissa Tepe and VP/Community Relations & Development

Yvonne Buhlinger bring years of experience with prenatal and pediatric care support.

Their intersecting perspectives will shed light on potential solutions to this tragic

situation.

Affinia Healthcare (formerly Grace Hill Health Center) is a transformative community

health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care services on a

sliding fee scale, to more than 43,000 individual patients in the St. Louis community

each year. Their 12 locations also provide an array of health support services and

community health programs.

Guests welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Event Host: Education Committee chair, Nancy Litz 314-803-4445

Location: St Louis Community Foundation, #2 Oak Knoll Park, 63105