A Red Circle launched its Creative Spot with a two-day grand opening, May 2–3, in Ferguson, Missouri.
Hailed as “a joyful and defiant act of community-building and hope,” by the organization, it blends murals, music, and history, into an arts and wellness hub at 414 S. Florissant Road.
A Red Circle’s Creative Spot is dedicated to supporting youth-led healing, mental health, arts education, and cultural expression for all ages. The space offers drop-in art workshops, music therapy, wellness services, and a home for community resilience through creativity.
“This isn’t about commemorating a tragedy. It’s about claiming joy. It’s about investing in the everyday magic of our kids and showing them that healing is their birthright.”, said Jessica Johnson, community arts director.
The Creative Spot is a project of A Red Circle, a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to address racial disparities in North St. Louis County, with a mission rooted in education, advocacy, holistic living, economic justice, and the arts.
Johnson calls it “a declaration that healing is a right, that joy can be infrastructure, and that North St. Louis County deserves sustained investment in its young people and community.”
“The Creative Spot is dedicated to the arts, mental health, leadership, and holistic wellness for youth and community members.”
The grand opening was more than a ribbon-cutting–it was a celebration through rhythm, paint, poetry, and presence. It embodied the center’s mission to fill the very gaps that are needed across the North County communities.
Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones shared with the standing-room-only crowd, that included many elected officials, and non-profit leaders, her municipality’s journey and emphasized “the power of reclaiming space through joy.”
Councilperson Naquittia Noah said The Creative Spot is an investment in youth as a public safety strategy. State Rep. Kem Smith presented an official resolution from the Missouri House honoring the space as a critical addition to the state’s wellness and equity infrastructure.
“Art is one of the most powerful tools we have for healing and leadership,” said Erica Williams, executive director of the Red Circle.
She said the Creative Spot is a place for young people to explore their emotions through painting, music, spoken word, and more. They will be encouraged to curate exhibits, co-lead workshops, and use their voices to respond to what’s happening around them.
“This center is about building community-centered leadership from the inside out,” Williams said.
In a press release, the Creative Spot states that the organization was excluded from a recent $3.2 million St. Louis County allocation due to district restrictions. However, Williams didn’t let that deter her from accomplishing her set goal.
She secured over $200,000 in funding through non-council ARPA-related grants, private contributions, and mission-aligned partners.
“A Red Circle’s Creative Spot is where a paintbrush becomes a form of protest, a drumbeat becomes healing, and youth reclaim their power through art. This is what community restoration looks like,” said Williams.
Blues singer Lady J Huston performed at the grand opening.
She said, “The blues is more than sad music. It’s survival music. It’s what we’ve always had to keep going—and that’s why I’m here. To pass it on,” said Hutson, who is also an artist-in-residence at the Red Circle’s Creative Spot.
A Red Circle’s third location in Pine Lawn opened on April 10, 2025, and it includes a community garden and kitchen that hosts chefs who teach community members how to bake bread, store food, and other useful kitchen tips.
The organization will also run its “Good Food Friday” event out of this space, allowing families and residents from all over the region to get vegetables for free.
Williams said she hopes the young people gain freedom through The Creative Spot.
“Freedom to be themselves, freedom to imagine, and freedom to lead,” said Williams
We want them to have access to resources, mentors, and new opportunities. We want this to be a launchpad, not just a safe haven.”
This space is such a gift to the community. You can feel the love and intention in every detail—from the music to the healing focus. North County kids deserve this kind of creative sanctuary. Thank you for building something so real and necessary.